The Scene Design for Picasso at the Lapin Agile

This is a thesis on the scenic design for Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile directed by Paul Steger and produced by the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1998. The design team consisted of: Dawn Schaefer, Set Designer; Jennifer Fabian, Costume Designer; Ed Johnson, Lighting Designer; and Dennis Befeler, Sound Designer. The goal of the set design was to create an exciting Rock-n-Roll type atmosphere while supporting the locations and period of the play and reflecting the lives in which the characters lived. The thesis begins with basic background information on Steve Martin, the play Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and scholarly opinions. This is followed by a section on research from the period, locations from the play and research on Picasso himself. The next section is on the scene design analysis, concept description, and the assimilation of these ideas. The final part of the thesis consists of reviews and evaluations from outside and within the department and concludes with a self-evaluation. The appendix includes: sketches, renderings, models, and photographs. Advisor: Charles O’Conno